UAS/Drone Senior Flight Operations Specialist

Terrafugia is a fast-paced, energetic company whose vision has always been to create sustainable air mobility solutions. We continue to pursue our mission of developing the world’s first practical flying car, and now we are expanding to include the development and manufacture of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). We’re building a team that combines deep expertise in UAS/drone design, best-in-class hardware and software product development, technical sales, and operational excellence to provide UAS platforms and application solutions for commercial applications. Our primary location is in Woburn, MA.

We are currently looking for an experienced UAS Senior Flight Operations Specialist to join our Business Development team. Candidates are self-starters who bring a positive attitude, integrity, and enthusiasm to our team as we build this new part of our organization and build our client pipeline for 2021 and beyond.

The ideal candidate will have a motivation for customer service and have at least six years of experience in a commercial UAS environment, of which a minimum of three years is actual customer-facing experience. Extensive experience planning and conducting either manned or unmanned aircraft operations and a professional approach to flight discipline and sound judgment are necessary.

Scope of Position

The Senior Flight Operations Specialist will supervise flight operation specialists and lead mission discovery and implementation discussions with our customers and prospects. You will be responsible for understanding customer requirements, possessing extensive experience planning, and conducting UAS operations with a professional approach to flight discipline and sound judgment is a must to earn customers’ confidence. The successful candidate for this role requires an outstanding work ethic and commitment to organizational success with excellent leadership, people management, communication, and influencing skills to manage and influence key stakeholders at a senior level.

Possess excellent verbal, written, presentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills are required for effective interface with all contacts at all levels within and outside the organization.

To grow the organization will require exceptional people skills, with experience leading and collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team environment. Robust analytical and problem-solving is the interface between our customer and UAS team, understanding its mission and our UAS capabilities to build achievable solutions to deploy our technology to meet mission requirements.

You will work with company leaders and team members in; business development, engineering, manufacturing to deliver industry-leading UAS solutions.

Required Skills and Experience
 6+ years of hands-on UAS mission experience in one of the following areas:
o Powerline, gas-line, and rail-line inspection
o Photography and mapping
o Forestry and/or agriculture
o Surveillance
o Marine (vessel and/or platforms)
 Hold a Remote Pilot FAA Part 107 with FAA Class 2 Medical Certification
 Experience with various sensors such as thermal IR, multi-spectral cameras, and LiDAR
 Experience with coordinating UAS operating site services, including preparation, covering the launch and recovery sites, Ground Control Station (GCS), Remote Video Terminal (RVT), and potential emergency and alternate airfield sites
 Experience with providing flight authorization and scheduling support, including preparing and updating, submitting, and overseeing UAS flight schedules to execute the mission
 In-field experience with UAS flight planning and management software/services, such as Skyward, Skygrid, UgCS, or equivalent mission planning software
 Experience coordinating with civil and/or military weather agencies for forecasting services accessible from the UAS NASOC site
 Experience preparing, publishing, and updating required Notices to Airmen (NOTAM)
applicable to UAS operations through the applicable Flight Service Station (FSS).
 Experience establishing, maintaining, and updating a Flight Publications Library, including applicable DOD Flight Information Publications (FLIPs), FAA Air Traffic Publications, approved Letters of Procedures, Certificates of Authorization issued by the FAA, and CBP UAS operations and maintenance manuals
 Experience coordinating UAS flight/mission planning and briefing with all applicable agencies before the commencement of operations
 Experience supporting post-mission reporting and analysis, including UAS mission results,
lessons learned, equipment effectiveness and status, maintenance, supply and logistics
reports, and accident and hazard-potential reports
 Experience implementing risk management principles in all operations, coordinating mishap response and safety efforts with the appropriate mishap response agencies, and approving mishap response plans, procedures, and checklists for use in a UAS-related mishap
 Experience providing scheduling, monitoring, post-sortie data collection, report generation, and records management support for the execution of proficiency flight training in support of currency requirements applicable to UAS aircrew members
 Experience flying in BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) and Detect-and-Avoid Drone
Collision Avoidance Systems
 Experience with regulations with special approvals, such as FAA Part 107 waivers
 Experience providing on-site administrative oversight for employees and contractors
 Experience working in a growth-oriented startup culture
 Experience teaching/training others in a professional or educational setting
 Experience designing, developing, testing, and operating UAVs
 Experience planning and analyzing flight test data
 Outstanding organization, analytical, and problem-solving skills
 Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills
Desired Skills and Experience
 BS/BA degree in Aeronautics, Business, Engineering, or similar discipline
 Outstanding organization, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
 Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
 Strong work ethic and commitment to organizational growth and success
 Excellent people skills, preferably experience working on a small, fast-paced team
 Prior DOD or other federal agency services with experience operating sUAS
 Excellent people skills, preferably experience working on a small, fast-paced team
 Holds an FAA Pilot certificate for SEL, MEL, and/or Rotorcraft is a plus
 Prior U.S. Security Clearance is a plus

Location and Travel
Our primary location is in Woburn, MA. The initial travel is within the U.S., with some international travel likely starting in 2021. Travel load is anticipated to grow to approximately 40% over the next 12 months.

Terrafugia provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, ancestry, religion or veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Contact Jack Pandolfo [email protected]